Worthy opponent

Ark, his arms filled with sparkling jewelry and shining coins, stumbled out of the vault with a broad smile on his face. "I'm rich!" he said, spinning in a circle while gold coins fell all around him. "Oh, I'm a millionaire at last!" This is heaven: rivers of silver and a mountain of gold! Laughing like a kid, he packed everything into his inventory. However, his face softened as the excitement subsided. "However, none of this is for me. It will be used for the association. For the human beast, Delta. Yes, that is how I intend to spend it.

Satisfied with his decision, Ark patted his chest and walked toward the warehouse exit.

On the other side, Delta was leading the freed beast humans through a side passage, carefully ensuring they avoided patrol routes. They had just stepped outside when a chilling voice echoed from the shadows.

“So it’s true,” the voice said, calm and sharp like steel. “One beast human has destroyed an entire warehouse filled with soldiers and mages.”

Everyone froze. From the moonlit street, a man stepped forward. He was tall, draped in black armor, with a blade strapped across his back. His eyes gleamed with cold disdain. He slowly drew his sword, the sound scraping through the night air. “Impressive… but it doesn’t matter. I’ll cut you down here and now.”

The beast humans shrank back in fear, huddling together. Delta instinctively moved in front of them, her purple blaze flaring faintly at her fingertips. She narrowed her eyes. “So you were waiting all this time… coward.”

The man smiled. “Call it what you like. My orders are simple—kill the beast human. And you’re standing right in front of me.”

Ark walked out of the warehouse behind them, silently quietly on a steaming cob of boiled corn that he had somehow summoned from his stock. He smiled even more when no one initially noticed him.                                              “Ohhh, looks like I came at the right time,” he muttered. Finding a nearby crate, he plopped down, swinging his legs and enjoying the corn. “A duel under the moonlight… let’s enjoy the match.”

The clouds shifted, revealing the full moon. Its pale light bathed the street, glinting off steel and fire alike. Delta tightened her grip on her blade, her tail bristling. “If you want to fight… then come.”

The man's sword flashed like lightning as he lunged forward with incredible speed. The blade wiped Delta's arm as she barely twisted away. Purple fire ignited in the air as she hissed and retaliated with a slash of her own. Steel clashed with magic-infused energy as the man parried, sending sparks flying.

“You’re fast,” the man admitted with a grin. “But raw speed isn’t enough to kill me.”

Delta slid backward, planting her feet firmly. Her eyes burned. “And arrogance alone won’t help you win.”

She charged, her blade wreathed in flames, striking again and again. The man blocked with incredible precision, his sword movements sharp and disciplined, honed through years of training. Every clash rang out like thunder, the freed beast humans watching in awe and terror.

Ark, meanwhile, took another bite of corn, speaking around the kernels. “Mm, not bad, Delta. But your footing’s too wide. And that guy—ah, he’s definitely some noble dog. Look at that perfect form. Boring.”

The man growled as he caught Delta’s strike and shoved her back. “You fight well… but in the end, you’re still just a beast pretending to be human.”

Delta’s eyes narrowed, her breath steady. She whispered softly, almost to herself, “I’m not pretending. I’m fighting for my people… for hope.” Then louder: “And that’s something you’ll never understand!”

Her aura surged, purple flames erupting wildly, pushing the man onto the defensive. He staggered back under the sheer intensity of her strikes, sparks flying across the cobblestones.

From his crate, Ark clapped lazily, smiling. “Well, well. Looks like things are heating up.” He took his last bite of corn and tossed the cob aside, eyes sparked with satisfaction. “Guess I won’t be bored tonight after all.”

The sharp crash of steel split the night air. The man's blade struck with merciless force as Delta blocked with her claws, her eyes bursting with focus. Where their weapons met, sparks burst forth. Dust kicked up under their feet as the impact sent them both skidding back across the cobblestones.

Delta crouched low, breathing heavily, then raised her hand. Purple energy swirled around her palm before bursting into a storm of fireballs. “Take this!” she shouted, launching a volley of blazing orbs.

The man smirked, raising his sword. His movements were fluid, precise—each slash cut through an energy ball, dispersing it into harmless sparks. “Pathetic,” he scoffed. “A beast who plays with fire. Nothing more.”

Delta's eyes covered with frustration as her tail wriggled. As the man charged, she leaped sideways, his blade slicing the air where she had been standing. Her shoulder sustained a minor cut from his sword. She circled him like a predator, hissing but maintaining her balance.

The duel raged on. Delta slashed with her claws, sparks flying as steel and claw met again and again. Her movements grew faster, more desperate. The man was calm, his breathing steady, every strike refined. His confidence filled the battlefield like a suffocating fog.

“Struggle more,” the man taunted, swinging his blade in a wide arc. “It makes no difference—you’ll die here.”

Delta staggered back, sweat dripping down her brow. Her claws trembled slightly. He’s too strong… his technique is flawless. But I can’t back down. Not when Ark, not when my people are depending on me.

The man stepped forward, raising his blade high for the finishing strike. The moonlight glinted on its edge, promising death.

But then… he froze.

His hands trembled. His breath caught. His body screamed danger. An overwhelming, suffocating pressure filled the air, weighing on his chest like a mountain. His eyes widened in disbelief as he turned toward the source.

Ark.

The boy still sat casually on his crate, arms crossed. But now his aura has changed completely. He had released it—an immense wave of mana, unseen yet crushing, filled the battlefield. His golden eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight, his expression calm, yet carrying the presence of a predator watching its prey.

“W-what… what is this?!” the man gasped, sweat running down his face. His sword wavered in his grip.

Delta felt it too, but instead of fear, she felt strength surge within her. Her heart steadied, her claws burned brighter with purple flame. She glanced at Ark and saw him watching, silent but supportive. A small, confident smile touched her lips.

“Thank you, Ark,” she said 

The man shook his head violently, trying to suppress the dread crawling up his spine. “No… NO! I won’t lose to a filthy beast! Not because of some brat’s trick!”

He roared and charged forward, his blade raised for a devastating slash. But Delta was ready. She dashed forward to meet him, claws glowing like twin blades of fire.

The world seemed to hold its breath.

Steel and flame clashed one final time. The man’s eyes widened as Delta slipped past his guard, her claws raking across his chest in a fatal strike. The sound of tearing armor, then flesh, echoed under the moonlight.

He staggered, choking, his sword slipping from his fingers. “I… impossible…” Blood spilled from his lips as he crumpled to the ground. His body fell still.

Above him, Delta stood with her claws dripping blood and her chest heaving. There was silence for a while. Ark then gave a slow, purposeful clap.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

“Well done, Delta,” Ark said, his voice calm but proud. “You faced him without fear, and you finished it. That’s the kind of strength we need.”

Delta lowered her claws, still trembling. She looked back at Ark, her eyes shining. “I… I really did it.”

“You did,” Ark replied, hopping down from his seat and walking toward her. He patted her shoulder with a faint grin. “And you didn’t just win. You proved yourself. Even that guy had to admit, with his last breath—you were worthy.”

Delta exhaled, relief flooding through her. For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself a small, genuine smile. “We did it, Ark. We really did.”

Ark turned his look toward the freed beast humans hiding behind the warehouse. His expression hardened. “No losses. No regrets. Our first mission… complete. I can't believe our first mission was so easy.”

Delta replied, her tail swaying with pride. Together, they walked into the moonlight, leaving the corpse of the enemy behind.

The night was theirs. Their revolution had just begun.